News Herald – Juliann Talkington
With US K-12 academic performance in international testing lagging behind most developed countries, many parents are looking for ways to improve the quality of education their children receive.
Homeschooling is one option. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about 3% of the school aged children (1.5 million children) in the US are schooled at home – a number that increased 75% between 1999 and 2012 (Education News).
With this growth and the number of participating students, the homeschool market is big business. As a result, it is important for parents to ask questions before they select homeschooling as the educational option for their children.
Parent’s personality
Home schooling requires a parent to spend an additional six to seven hours with his/her child each day. Do you want (are you able) to spend this much time with your child?
Child’s motivation
Does your child learn for the love of learning or does he/she need competition with other students to apply him/herself? If he/she needs competition, one-on-one instruction is generally not a good option.
Parent’s background
It is impossible to teach a subject you do not understand. Do you feel comfortable enough with the material that you can explain it clearly to your child?
Organization and Discipline
Do you have the skills to create detailed lesson plans and to make adjustments to make sure your child completes the required material? Then, do you have the discipline to teach or require your child to pay attention to online lessons 180 days per year?
Ability to Teach
Brilliant people do not always make good teachers. Can you present material in a way your child can understand? Do you have the ability to set academic expectations and also encourage your child? Do you mind doing the same thing over and over again to help your child build confidence and understanding?
Finances
Effective home education requires financial resources. Do you have the money to pay for tutors or have a parent stay at home without generating income?
Socialization
Homeschooled children can be as well socialized. However, socializing children schooled at home takes extra effort and often requires additional expenditures for activities. Does your family have the additional money required for sports, arts, community service, and leadership activities?
Home schooling can be a terrific option for the right parents and students, but can also lead to poor outcomes if the environment is not a good fit for the child or the parents.